Can we talk about the 'AI art isn't real art' take I keep seeing?

I saw a post yesterday that said using a prompt to generate a piece means you didn't create anything. I think that's wrong because you still have to guide the model, choose the output, and often do a ton of editing in Photoshop after. Has anyone else had to defend their process like this?

3 comments

3 Comments

christopherw342mo agoRising Star

The argument that typing a prompt means zero creative work is just lazy. I spent three hours last night tweaking a single prompt for Midjourney, then another two in Photoshop fixing weird hands and lighting. That's five hours of direct artistic choices. Saying it's not real art feels like saying photography isn't art because the camera does the exposure. Every new tool gets this pushback, but the creative intent and labor behind the final image is what makes it art.

shane_park922mo ago

Ever notice how people always try to gatekeep new creative tools? @christopherw34 is right, it's the same old argument every time something changes. The work you put in is what makes it art, not how old the tool is.

viola_lopez301mo ago

Ugh, I don't know @shane_park92... It just feels different to me. Typing words isn't the same skill as drawing or painting, no matter how long you work on the prompt.